The Unmaking of June Farrow

by Adrienne Young

3 Stars

GoodReads

At a Glance

Published10/17/2023

GenreFantasy & Sci-Fi

SubgenreMagical Realism

FormatAudiobook

NarrationBrittany Pressley

GoodReads4.09

My Score3

Spice Level

Book Summary

In the small mountain town of Jasper, North Carolina, June Farrow is waiting for fate to find her. The Farrow women are known for their thriving flower farm—and the mysterious curse that has plagued their family line. The whole town remembers the madness that led to Susanna Farrow’s disappearance, leaving June to be raised by her grandmother and haunted by rumors.

It’s been a year since June started seeing and hearing things that weren’t there. Faint wind chimes, a voice calling her name, and a mysterious door appearing out of nowhere—the signs of what June always knew was coming. But June is determined to end the curse once and for all, even if she must sacrifice finding love and having a family of her own.

After her grandmother’s death, June discovers a series of cryptic clues regarding her mother’s decades-old disappearance, except they only lead to more questions. But could the door she once assumed was a hallucination be the answer she’s been searching for? The next time it appears, June realizes she can touch it and walk past the threshold. And when she does, she embarks on a journey that will not only change both the past and the future but also uncover the lingering mysteries of her small town and entangle her heart in an epic star-crossed love.

[summary provided by GoodReads]

My Review

3.5 stars

This is the second book I’ve read by this author. While her writing is beautifully lush and lyrical, creating an immersive experience, I found myself disappointed once more. I really wanted to enjoy it more, but it fell short for me again.

I listened to the audiobook, and I loved the narrator, Brittany Pressley. She’s quickly become one of my favorite narrators. She did an amazing job.

This story has a very slow start, so if you enjoy slow burns, you might appreciate this book. However, I didn’t become fully invested or interested until about 30% in. I kept waiting for something significant to happen, but when it finally did, it felt lackluster and disappointing. I was bored throughout and kept hoping for something big to happen, but it never really came. The delayed explanations and tedious buildup also added to my frustrations with the book.

The time travel explanations were somewhat fuzzy and confusing, leaving me lost during some sequences and unsure of what was happening. However, I did enjoy the twists and surprises toward the end of the book, which caught me off guard.

Overall, I felt compelled enough to keep listening to the audiobook because I wanted to know what happened in the story, so it wasn’t all bad. I was curious about the mystery surrounding the women in this family. While I enjoyed the characters, I didn’t connect with them deeply, but I did care about their fates and rooted for a happy ending, which I got. It wasn’t a terrible read, but it wasn’t great either. I thought it was an interesting plot, but the execution was lacking.

If you enjoy small-town settings with a mystery, a touch of magical realism, and second-chance romances, you might really like this book.

I might give this author one more chance to find a book I can rate higher, but ultimately, she may not be the author for me. If the plot intrigues you, I recommend checking out this book, but I suggest going in with low expectations.